Registering For Courses

Registration

Students have several registration options if they choose to register early for the upcoming semester. Early registration will permit students to have first choice of courses and class times. Payment of the appropriate College fees will hold these classes until full payment is made no later than three weeks before the start of classes. Fees are not refundable. Delaying registration until the beginning of the semester may result in desired classes and times being unavailable.

Students are strongly encouraged to be advised by an academic advisor or counselor. In addition, students must be in full compliance with all other college policies and requirements.

Registration is not complete until all forms are completed and submitted and tuition and fees are paid in full. Students who do not pay or make financial arrangements with the Business Office will have their registrations cancelled.

Full-time/Part-time Student Status

Students registering for 12 Credits or more at HCC are classified as Full-Time Student Status. Students registering between 6 and 11 Credits at HCC are classified as Part-Time Student Status.

Auditing Courses

A student not wishing credit may audit courses. This status may allow the student to participate in classroom activities. Tuition and fees are the same for audited classes.

Students must obtain the written approval of the instructor in order to audit a class. An Audit form signed by the class instructor must be completed within four weeks of the start of classes for a standard semester and earlier for summer or winter sessions. Forms are available at the Registrar's office. Full tuition and fees are due for any audited classes. While the student may ask to have papers critiqued, the instructor is not required to grade an auditor's course work. Audited classes are listed on the student's transcript as AU. While a student may in succeeding semesters take for credit a class previously audited, students may not petition to receive credit for an audited class and may not change to a credit basis during the semester.

Change of Major/Add a Secondary Program

Students who wish to change their enrollment from one major to another (for example, to change from General Studies to Fine Arts - Art) or add a secondary program should obtain the proper form from the Counseling Office. The completed Change of Major form needs to be submitted to the Registrars Office, LH-B109.

Attendance

With enrollment in college, students accept responsibility to take full advantage of their educational opportunity by regular attendance in classes and laboratories.

The college does not administer a uniform system of attendance regulations. At the beginning of each semester the instructor will provide a course outline and what he/she considers necessary for the successful completion of the subject matter. Students are expected to meet academic obligations or to assume the risks of failure.

The instructor will extend make-up of work missed because of absence or other reasons only when there is sufficient justification.Lack of attendance cannot be the sole ground for exclusion from a course.

Repeating a Course/Higher Grade Prevails

Students may only repeat the same course twice in which they receive a grade of "C-" or lower (C-, D+, D-, F). Credit will be granted only once for a course unless otherwise specified in the course description. The student transcript will reflect all grades, but for the purpose of the computation of the GPA, the higher or highest grade prevails. Repeated courses that are counted in the computation of the GPA are noted with "I" on the transcript following the grade points to indicate "included" in calculation. Courses that are not counted in the computation of the GPA are noted with "E" on the transcripts following the grade points to indicate "excluded" in calculation.

Incomplete Work

If there are exceptional circumstances, a student whose work in a course is incomplete at the time of grading may request a grade of "I" from the course instructor. The instructor will complete an Incomplete Grade Form which lists what the student must do to complete the course requirements and a default grade if the student fails to do so. If the work for the course and the procedures for changing a grade are not completed within 10 weeks of the following regular semesters (fall or spring), the "I" automatically converts to the default grade provided by the faculty member. (Grades of "I" received at the end of the spring semester would automatically revert to the default grade at the end of the fall semester.)

The student is responsible for meeting with the instructor to make arrangements to complete course work.

If an extension of time beyond one semester is needed, a written request must be filed in the office of the Academic Dean prior to the end of the 10-week period. Extensions will be at the discretion of the instructor and the Academic Dean.

Withdrawing from College or Dropping a Course

A student who wishes to drop a course or to withdraw from the college should follow the official procedure outlined below. Students who do not officially drop courses or withdraw from the college or fail to complete courses satisfactorily may be subject to probation, suspension or dismissal.

1. Contact a counselor in the Counseling Office or a faculty advisor and follow his or her instructions.

2. Obtain an add/drop notice form from the Registrar's Office.

3. Students who cannot appear in person to withdraw from the college should attempt to work with a counselor. No drop or withdrawal requests can be accepted by telephone or online.

4. During Fall and Spring semesters, for all students who withdraw from the college or drop a course prior to, or during, the first two weeks of class of the semester, the course will not appear on the student's transcript. Courses withdrawn from or dropped prior to the Summer or Winter sessions will not appear on the student's transcript.

5. Students who drop a course or withdraw from the college after two weeks, but prior to the end of six weeks after the start of classes for a standard semester are entitled to receive a grade of "W" in each course from which they have officially dropped or withdrawn. After that time, through the 12th week of a standard semester, the faculty member has the option to assign a grade of "W" or "F." Before dropping a course, it is recommended that the student discuss the matter with the faculty member. (Refer to the section on Grading.) After the 12th week, no course can be dropped.

Financial Responsibility

Important Deadlines For Registration, Payment & Refunds

You may want to PRINT THIS PAGE for reference

Payment Plan & Financial Aid: If you entered into a payment plan agreement (installment plan) you must continue to make payments until your financial aid request has been reviewed and finalized. An official award notification will be sent to you. If you have paid more than the balance owed, you will be refunded any overpayment after financial aid funds are disbursed. (More information on Financial Aid at HCC)

Important Deadlines for Spring 2019

Tuition and fees must be paid by 4:45 p.m. on Friday, January 4, 2019.

If you register for a class that you do not plan to attend, you are responsible for dropping the class before the start of the semester. Failure to do so will result in tuition charges on your account. Fees are not refundable.

Payments and/or financial aid assistance must be in place by Friday, January 4, 2019 to hold your registration for Spring 2019.

Any student registering for Spring 2019 on or after Friday, January 4, 2019 must, on the day of registration, either pay the full amount of their tuition and fees, complete the first payment of the IPPO (Installment Payment Plan Option) in the Student Accounts Office (L123), or have an approved third party payer on file in the Student Accounts Office by 4:45 p.m. on the day of registration.

·The college reserves the right to cancel your registration due to non-payment.

The final day to enroll in payment plan is by 4:45 pm Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Refund Policy Spring 2019:

On or before 4:45 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 100% tuition and mandatory usage fees.

After 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 and before 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, February 6, 2019, 50% tuition and mandatory usage fees.

CSF and SAF and transportation fees are non-refundable.

Spring 2019

Tuition and Refund Dates(No telephone withdrawals will be accepted)

Add/Drop Dates

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

On or before 4:45 pm, 100% refund of tuition and mandatory usage fees.

Last day to officially drop a class or withdraw from the College and receive a 100% tuition and mandatory usage fees refund. Please see refund policy for exceptions.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

At 4:45 pm deadline to enroll in Payment Plan.

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Last day to add an open class without the signature of the instructor..

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

On or before 4:45 pm, 50% refund of tuition and lab/studio fees

On or before 4:45 p.m. Last day to officially drop a class or withdraw from the College, receive a 50% refund of tuition and mandatory usage fees and be removed from the class roster.

After 4:45 pm Wednesday, February 6, 2019

No refunds are given after this date.

Students dropping and adding courses after 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 will be charged full rate for the additional courses and will not be eligible for a refund/credit for the dropped courses.

Friday, February 22, 2019 by 4:45 PM

2nd installment of Payment Plan due by 4:45 pm

Friday, March 22, 2019 by 4:45 PM

3rd and final installment of Payment Plan due by 4:45 pm. At this time student should be Paid-in-Full

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Last day to submit an audit form

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Last day to formally drop/withdraw a class from the College and receive an automatic “W.”

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Programs

Housatonic Community College is committed to providing access to higher education by minimizing economic barriers. HCC participates in all state and federal financial aid programs.

The amount of assistance is based primarily on need, satisfactory academic progress, and availability of funds. To be eligible for Financial Aid, students must have a high school diploma or GED, be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen and be enrolled in a degree or eligible certificate program. Financial aid is available for credit courses only; audit or non-credit courses are not covered by financial aid.

To Apply for Financial Aid

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov. For Fall semester enrollment the FAFSA should be completed by May 1. HCC’s Federal School code, 004513, must be included for proper processing. The Financial Aid Office must receive the results of your FAFSA and Financial Aid and the HCC Admission application process must be complete before an award can be made.

Please Note: You are now expected to link your FAFSA directly to your IRS tax information. Students who fail to do this correctly and are selected for verification will need to bring IRS Tax transcripts. We will no longer accept copies of 1040 Tax returns.

Students who complete their FAFSA after May 1, 2015 will not, in all probability, have an official financial aid award in place before classes begin on August 31, 2015 and must explore other means of payment (cash, check, credit card, payment plan) or risk having their registration cancelled.

Please Note

You do not have financial aid until you have received an official award notice via e-mail or letter.

Students who register for classes before receiving the official award letter must pay for their classes (cash, check, credit card, payment plan) or run the risk having their registration cancelled.

Students who want to register before their financial aid processing is complete must pay all fees on the day of registration thereby holding their classes until 4:45 pm, August 7, 2015.

Fees are non-refundable.

Financial aid awards are based on your enrollment status as of the 14th calendar day of the semester. Any courses added after that time will not be covered by financial aid but billed directly to the student.

Students who officially withdraw during the first two weeks of classes will have all financial aid cancelled. The Business Office will bill these students for 50% of their tuition, all fees and book charges if any.

Tax Credit Programs

The American Opportunity Tax Credit provides for qualified education expenses. Eligible students can receive up to $2,500 tax credit for the first four years of post-secondary education.

The Lifetime Learning Credit helps students pay tuition for upgrading job skills or career training. The Lifetime tax credit is 20% of qualified tuition and fee expenses, up to $2,000 per year, with some income-based limitations.

For more information on these programs, consult your tax advisor or the IRS website at www.irs.gov

Important Financial Aid Information

Students who receive partial financial aid must pay or make arrangements for the balance owed by 4:45 pm, August 7, 2015.Failure to follow the above guidelines will result in cancellation of your registration.

The following information affects your enrollment status.

Students must reapply for financial aid each academic year. Deadline dates are May 1 for classes beginning in September and November 1 for classes beginning in January.

The only formal announcement of financial aid is an official award letter or e-mail sent by the Financial Aid Office. Information on MyCommnet is not official unless you have received an official e-mail award notification or have been sent an award letter.

Please Note

Applicants are responsible for completing all Federal eligibility and file completion requirements as early as possible.

Under NO circumstances will financial aid be available for the fall semester unless ALL requirements are satisfied by November 15, 2015.

Computer Use For Class

Expectations for Student Use of Computers in Courses

Any Housatonic Community College course may require substantial computer based learning including use of the Internet, e-text books, instructional software, Blackboard*, research data bases, online assignments, etc., for the completion of class assignments, homework, research and assessments.

Computer- based learning experiences may be used in place of or in addition to traditional lectures for some lessons. All students have access to computer laboratories in both Beacon Hall and Lafayette Hall. Computer access is also available in the college library.

*Blackboard e-Learning Platform

Blackboard is an e-Learning platform used by the Connecticut Community Colleges to deliver and manage course material on the web. All online and hybrid courses are taught using Blackboard. Additionally, all college faculty post their class syllabi on Blackboard and many also use Blackboard as a supplement to classroom instruction. For example, to post announcements and course materials, administer examinations, submit student grades, and communicate with their students through e-mail, discussion forums, etc. Students are required to check Blackboard for course activity information in the event of a course cancellation.

Students can learn about how to use Blackboard by visiting our distance Education office in Beacon Hall Room 272, calling Ryan Farrington (Education Technology Specialist) at 203-332-5088, or online at the Housatonic web site:www.housatonic.edu/webct/DL OR by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions for BBLearn.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Continuing Notice of Nondiscrimination

Housatonic Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, sex, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or genetic information in its programs and activities. In addition, the College does not discriminate in employment on the additional basis of veteran status or criminal record.

All programs are open to students. These programs are described in the Degree and Certificate Programs section of the College Catalog and Student Handbook. Selective admission criteria are in place for the following Career and Technical Education Programs: Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and Physical Therapy Assistant. Refer to the programs for special admission requirements.